Background: Reactive arthritis (ReA) is an emerging arthritis after viral infection especially respiratory and gastrointestinal related viruses. In 2020, SARS-COV2 virus is sweeping worldwide with diverse symptoms and prolonged post-Covid manifestations in which are arthralgia and myalgia are frequently present for days and even months. Interestedly, arthritis in covid era is a part of ReA or a flare of autoimmune disease, it is challenging.⁽¹⁾

Objectives: Our objective was to determine the frequency of musculoskeletal symptoms with SARS-COV2 virus and after recovery as well as its relation to autoimmune diseases flares.

Methods: A Prospective study was done on 241 patients who admitted to the Rheumatology clinic from March 2020 to January 2021, complaining from new onset of musculoskeletal symptoms. Detailed history, Examination of systems including Musculoskeletal, laboratory investigation, past history of existing rheumatic disease, and history of infection with covid 19.

Results: Among 241 patients with median age 34.4, 36.92% had an existing Rheumatic disease while 63.08% are not. Moreover, 39% of patients had a post history with covid 19 within weeks. The most frequent Musculoskeletal symptoms are myalgia (74.56%), arthralgia (69.36%), and arthritis (10.78%). Furthermore, ReA (Post covid arthritis) accounted (2.07%) especially monoarthritis of Ankle (68.75%) while rheumatic diseases flares (24.48%) as well as new onset rheumatic diseases (39.68%). (p ≤0.001) patients of ReA improved on NSAID and intrarticular injection of glucocorticosteroid.

Conclusion: Covid 19 is one of environmental triggers for development of rheumatic disease as well as reactive arthritis post viral infections. ReA is commonly affected the Ankle joint mainly monoarthritis and had improved on oral NSAID and intrarticular injection of Glucocorticosteroid.

References: [1]Schett, G., Manger, B., Simon, D. et al. COVID-19 revisiting inflammatory pathways of arthritis. Nat Rev Rheumatol 16, 465–470 (2020).

Disclosure of Interests: None declared.